kate rothwell

Let's get the promo out of the way. The SAMMIES are happening and my Summer Devon book, Unnatural Calamities , is up for best ebook cover and best ebook. You should vote for here: THE VOTING LINK! There are a lot of really good books up on that list. I had a hard time deciding who else to vote for. But I did pick Sandy Blair because she's a sweetie-pie. Too many great books to choose so I went with the fabu one by the doll-faced sweetie-pie.  In other news: my book that I tried to make free with a coupon is now just plain free . Here's the link at Smashwords .  It's over at All Romance Ebooks too, but it's not free at Amazon yet. Why am I making it free? Because the newsletter I wrote turned into so much gibberish that the special code to make it free was gone. Also because I'm following the herd. Everyone seems to make books free and just as the books are catching on, they zip over and jack up the price to a buck or so. This ebook world is one wild and w...

I'm over at TEB , patting ourselves on the back for a job beeeautifully-done. Lisabea's finale is magnificent, deserving of a standing ovation. It's all so ...so....lovely. That standing ovation line reminds me of all the school concerts where the audience all stand up and applaud until their hands hurt--just after the teachers point out that without us amazing parents we'd never have gotten to hear this amazing music. We are so achingly clever, we kill ourselves with joy. * * * Speaking of death, no, the boy still hasn't decided which school. A couple more days of indecision and voila! The decision will be made for him because it'll be too late. I've taken to repeating to myself that there are worse things than getting a job instead of going to college right after high school. My husband, who goes out running every morning before the crack of dawn, got home this morning at six am and I woke to hear him on the front porch (open window weather. Ahhhhhh) ta...

broken sobbing alert continues. This state of starry-eyed blubbering is usually only reached after three fruity alcoholic beverages. Ann Aguirre has it. This is the best. She's won. God, this book brings tears to my eyes it's so so so. . . Oh. Lordy. Tumperkin, Carolyn Jean, Carrie, Ann. You are all....Oh. Shit... it's all so beautiful. I was THERE. I was PART OF GENIUS. Oh. OH. Ohhhhh. Now that your nipples and heart are on full turgid alert, go read. Chapter one is at Tumperkin ’s. Chapter two is at Carolyn Jean ’s. Chapter three is at HERE! My Place! Chapter four is at Carrie Lofty’ s. Chapter five is at Ann's. (see above) Chapter six (and the finale!) will be at Lisabea ’s. Links etc lifted directly from Ann's blog. I'm still too verklempt to busy myself with links and trivialities.

Yeah, yeah, it's politics. But it's a lot of fun spending play money here. I like the idea of buying an IPod, a Hanes classic 6-pack of socks and a new national power grid, a secret island fortress, and still have money for a few thousand Hannah Montana anti-static pink hairbrushes.

Anyone else watch Hustle ? We've become addicted and I think we're going to run out soon. We're definitely done with the stuff available at the local library and imdb tells me that there aren't many after that. I don't understand why British television doesn't take a series all the way to the bitter end. It's just like The Office (the one set in Slough--a place I've visited more than once and yes, I know just how cool that makes me). They made a few seasons and then Ricky Gervais decided okay, they're done with that story. What's with the grand old tradition of grinding out episodes until the ratings and writing go into the toilet? Sheesh. Although ....are the Archers still out there on the radio?

So there's a dumb little blog where a woman named for a Groucho Marx character wrote some short entries that add up to 'ebooks are stupid!' and everyone went to visit her and blast her and go all Eeeiiii. THREE, count 'em, THREE writers' loops I belong to said omigod, go read her and blast her! I did and now I say, jeepers why'd I click on that link? Hey, I'll bet that blogger is the one who instructed some poor excitable writer to go read and get outraged and spread the news. Yo, stop going over there, you silly outrageees! Stay here! Read all about neuroses and cheetos. blast me! Or spend more time at Balls and Walnuts where you I can win valuable prizez (thanks, Doug). If you do want to get the blood pressure shooting into the stratosphere, go read Karen or Jesus General or ferfe or someone else, anyone else, who's got an ounce o' brainy fun with their outrageous and/or strongly expressed opinions. Evidence of some brain pwr, people--look ...

Shannon Stacey, Charlene Teglia and Summer Devon: LOOK what's available for pre-order! No cover even yet. That's what I'm looking forward to. See, Shannon? I remembered this time! :-d

Jennifer Y, THE Jennifer Y who is a romance reader extraordinaire, is having a bunch of Zebra types at her blog . I'm up today. She puts a lot of effort into her blog and organized this months ago. I hope it was less like herding cats than I expect.

See entry below. See pretty, pretty socks. And rugs. (which aren't tough enough for plain floors). And bags. These are the same batch seen from two different angles. Buy socks from me. Thank you. Here're some pots. They aren't for sale, but I like them and the socks are on the floor next to them so why not? My sister made all but one brown cup and casserole and the stuff up on the far upper left. Also the big metal lid to a wok --> not hers.

I really hate that. And I know you know what I mean because it's all over the interwebs: vizzz The cliquey types who only talk about how brilliant their friends are. They can't Admire Themselves, because that would look seriously conceited. No looking in the mirror and admiring how gorgeous their hair and eyes are, but if someone else, one of their good, mutual admiration society friends, happens to mention it, okay. And they also associate with just the prettiest, best people. Their BFF are the best writers. I've always tried to avoid books by people I know just because of that. And the whole quid pro quo thing. The reviews over at Amazon that mention lists of friends' titles ....no, I mean it. Don't get me started because, hey, it's wroth week here at Casa Kate. But can I help it if I happen to know a lot of people who write good books? A couple of days ago, I couldn't restrain my glee when I saw that Dee and Sharpe had books out. And listen, I didn...

Bonnie Dee and Bettie Sharpe both have books out at Samhain this week. Here's how good those two are: When I pick up one of their books (or really, my laptop, since we're talking ebooks) I do NOT have the following response ( stolen from ferfe's blog ) “I’m in a lonely, angry, bitter place.” ~ Anthony Bourdain upon being presented with fries at a restaurant that he deemed better than the fries he serves at his Restaurant in NY . When I read their books, professional envy doesn't exist -- because I get too caught up in the story . Once I'm done reading, all bets are off, though.

two photos. first-- a shocking story that should teach parents to pay attention to their kids' online activity (stolen from I'm not sure where or I'd give credit where due. Not here, that's all I know.) Click on it to read. and then-- A Christmas present for you guys. Although I should point out we're talking sour grapes for me. What can I say except damn you, Pam LaBud. Damn. You. She sent this around to various pals, crowing about her good luck on her Dutch translation's cover. It IS The Perfect Cover with only one flaw: the wind seems to be blowing in the same direction. The Absolute Perfect One has the wind gusting in two directions for maximum hair ripple and gown flowage. And yet it could be argued this is even better for, lo, it does allow for his hair action, which is primo. eve: the hair!!!! I have no words for the hair. flo: It's Gaston from Beauty and the Beast You have to feel sorry for the dude who's having a rotten day. Bad enough to lo...

The Eppie contest must be a fairly big deal. I've gotten about 20 emails** congratulating me for finalling . Most of the emails are coming from strangers which means they're looking me up. Wow. * * * Look, I'm having a Linda Winfree contest And I have to figure it what happens in it? I'm feeling remarkably lazy so...how about people have until Sunday to GU ESS LIN DA 'S FAVO RITE COLOR . (This is lifted straight from chats.) First person to guess right, wins the prize. step one: Linda, think of a color step two: Everyone else , post a color in this comment section or maybe at Linda's spot. If no one guesses, then I get the book. Linda, you decide which book. I hope it's Tick's story because I haven't read that one yet. I'll hold off buying it until Sunday. * * * We had 11 inches of snow yesterday and I shoved kids outside to play in the winter wonderland. At one point, my neighbor called just to say how sweet it was to watch her kids and m...

Check out this cool charity auction she's doing for Ember. It'll help people and you'll get to do that read-through thing versus the drip....drip.... Own a whole copy today!

Have you read more of Bettie's story or are you waiting for the whole thing? I suppose either way works, as long as you do eventually read it. If you're getting into this creative writing shtick, go check out Petunia Happenstance's Reboot contest. It's funky, it's interesting. You can Win a pretty book. You are aware that PBW features the best free advice / news / John and Marcia snar k but it's nice to be reminded that she's out there. Any more fun contests and events out in the world? Authors wanna pimp your contests? Go ahead. Vote in MY contest (below) so some lucky talented winner will get a fine array of valuable prizes.

Thanks for the book recommendations! I know they're great reads because I've read just about everything you suggested except the Tiffany Aching books. Yay! Something new to pick up. Uh oh, this time of year, it can't be for me. I do hope the boys don't mind yet another a Greyhound bus** Christmas present. I resented the hell out of To Say Nothing of the Dog because I'd just finished writing a manuscript about a time travel bureaucracy when I read it. And Willis's book is so good, and funny and Wodehousian--so much better--I had to hate it. (It did make me go back and try to read JKJ's Three Men in a Boat again. Nope. Still can't stay awake for that book) Speaking of good reading, go look at the entries. THE CONTEST IS STILL OPEN. And pity the poor fool who has to pick the best three. Make it more difficult by adding more great entries, eh? Contest ends in a few days! Work on it! Do it! Write it! Four more, three more, two more.... Then you guys have t...

My Thursday Thirteen author files died with the reformatting. The gap between how organized I thought I was and the actual truth is deep, wide and scary. I knew I'd have to reformat the damned new computer. I thought I'd gotten everything off. I'm down a couple of synopses and a lot of emails and I suspect the latest draft of at least two books. Not really that bad because nothing is close to finished at the moment. So authors! Kathy Love and a few more of you out there. Write to me. And other authors, you, too. Why do you want us to write? asks Selah. Oh. Right. I like featuring authors every Thursday. I've had Leigh Wyndfield Shirley Jump Charlene Teglia Bonnie Dee Jackie Kessler Flo Fitzpatrick Julie Cohen Rob Preece Sandy Blair not in that order (and maybe more) Here's what I want: Writers who have more than one or two books out there. I like having a mix of print and ebook authors, well known and Relatively Fresh New Voices. Why do I want authors with more tha...

1. Shirley Jump features me and my banana spooge at her blog . 2. The other dog discovered the evil, stinky substance and she also rolled in it. I've rubbed them both with reams of paper towels and doggy de-stink gunk and have banned all unaccompanied trips out back. 3. I'm celebrating writing "the end" on a story by taking the morning off. I was going to exercise but finished Going Postal by Pratchett instead. Oh, how my love for him grows and grows**. It's greater than the stench in this room, even. ______ ** as does my butt, again. Better get back on that treadmill .

BAM'S BOOK IS OUT . How could I have missed that? This life crap is getting in the way again ? Sorry Julie, I have to put this in, too and you have to share your day with Bam. So okay, my job tonight: buy it, point out that I've blogged it and maybe I'll be a winner. Yay!

I made a special award for myself. See? If you made the list, feel free to steal the award for yourself. Heck, steal it if you feel like you deserve it or if you just want it. It's not like the award says which Karen I'm talking about. If you have a friend named Karen you might want to get her to make a list of " Authors Not.... " and put you on it.